Refrigeration system including a desiccant

Abstract

A refrigeration system for providing conditioned air to a space includes a compressor operable to compress a refrigerant, a condenser configured to receive the refrigerant from the compressor, an expansion device configured to receive the refrigerant from the condenser, a desiccant operable to adsorb moisture from an airflow flowing through the desiccant such that the airflow is substantially dehumidified, and an evaporator assembly configured to receive the refrigerant from the expansion device and the airflow from the desiccant. The evaporator assembly is operable to condition the airflow prior to discharge from the evaporator assembly. The refrigeration system also includes a heat exchanger configured to selectively receive the refrigerant from at least one of the compressor and the condenser. The heat exchanger is in communication with the desiccant such that the refrigerant in the heat exchanger desorbs moisture from the desiccant.

1 . A refrigeration system for providing conditioned air to a space, the refrigeration system comprising:
 a compressor operable to compress a refrigerant;   a condenser configured to receive the refrigerant from the compressor;   an expansion device configured to receive the refrigerant from the condenser;   a desiccant operable to adsorb moisture from an airflow flowing through the desiccant such that the airflow is substantially dehumidified;   an evaporator assembly configured to receive the refrigerant from the expansion device and the airflow from the desiccant, the evaporator assembly operable to condition the airflow prior to discharge from the evaporator assembly; and   a heat exchanger configured to selectively receive the refrigerant from at least one of the compressor and the condenser, the heat exchanger in communication with the desiccant such that the refrigerant in the heat exchanger desorbs moisture from the desiccant.   
   
   
       2 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant is heated when the compressor compresses the refrigerant, and wherein the heated refrigerant in the heat exchanger desorbs moisture from the desiccant. 
   
   
       3 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant is at least one of cooled prior to entering the heat exchanger and cooled while in the heat exchanger, and wherein the cooled refrigerant in the heat exchanger cools the desiccant. 
   
   
       4 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger includes a coil configured to receive the refrigerant and a fan operable to propel a second airflow over the coil and through at least a portion of the desiccant to desorb moisture from the desiccant. 
   
   
       5 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger includes a coil configured to receive the refrigerant, and wherein at least a portion of the coil is embedded in the desiccant to desorb moisture from the desiccant. 
   
   
       6 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger selectively receives the refrigerant from the compressor, and further comprising at least one valve positioned between the compressor, the condenser, and the heat exchanger to selectively direct the refrigerant from the compressor to one of the condenser and the heat exchanger. 
   
   
       7 . The refrigeration system of  claim 6 , further comprising a bypass extending from a point between the condenser, the heat exchanger, and the expansion device to a point between the evaporator assembly and the compressor, and wherein the bypass is configured to selectively direct the refrigerant from the heat exchanger to the compressor. 
   
   
       8 . The refrigeration system of  claim 7 , further comprising a second bypass extending from a point between the condenser and the expansion device to a point between the at least one valve and the heat exchanger, wherein the second bypass includes a second expansion device, and wherein the second bypass is configured to selectively direct the refrigerant from the condenser through the second expansion device to the heat exchanger. 
   
   
       9 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger selectively receives the refrigerant from the condenser, and further comprising:
 a bypass extending from a point between the condenser and the heat exchanger to a point between the heat exchanger and the expansion device, the bypass configured to direct the refrigerant from the condenser around the heat exchanger, and   at least one valve positioned between the condenser and the heat exchanger, the at least one valve configured to selectively direct the refrigerant from the condenser to at least one of the bypass and the heat exchanger.   
   
   
       10 . The refrigeration system of  claim 9 , further comprising a second bypass extending from a point between the heat exchanger and the expansion device to a point between the evaporator assembly and the compressor, and wherein the second bypass is configured to selectively direct the refrigerant from the heat exchanger to the compressor. 
   
   
       11 . The refrigeration system of  claim 10 , further comprising a third bypass extending from a point between the condenser and the at least one valve to a point between the at least one valve and the heat exchanger, wherein the third bypass includes a second expansion device, and wherein the third bypass is configured to selectively direct the refrigerant from the condenser through the second expansion device to the heat exchanger. 
   
   
       12 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the desiccant is a first desiccant and further comprising a second desiccant, and wherein when one of the first desiccant and the second desiccant adsorbs moisture from the airflow, the refrigerant in the heat exchanger desorbs moisture from the other of the first desiccant and the second desiccant. 
   
   
       13 . The refrigeration system of  claim 12 , wherein the first desiccant and the second desiccant are reversible such that the other of the first desiccant and the second desiccant adsorbs moisture from the airflow and the refrigerant in the heat exchanger desorbs moisture from the one of the first desiccant and the second desiccant. 
   
   
       14 . A method of providing conditioned air to a space with a refrigeration system, the refrigeration system including a compressor operable to compress a refrigerant, a condenser configured to receive the refrigerant from the compressor, an expansion device configured to receive the refrigerant from the condenser, a desiccant configured to receive an airflow, and an evaporator assembly configured to receive the refrigerant from the expansion valve and the airflow from the desiccant, the method comprising:
 providing a heat exchanger configured to selectively receive the refrigerant from at least one of the compressor and the condenser, the heat exchanger in communication with the desiccant;   adsorbing moisture from the airflow flowing through the desiccant such that the airflow is substantially dehumidified;   directing the airflow from the desiccant through the evaporator assembly;   conditioning the airflow with the evaporator assembly prior to discharge from the evaporator assembly; and   desorbing moisture from the desiccant with the refrigerant in the heat exchanger.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the refrigerant is heated when the compressor compresses the refrigerant, and wherein desorbing moisture from the desiccant includes desorbing moisture from the desiccant with the heated refrigerant in the heat exchanger. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the refrigerant is at least one of cooled prior to entering the heat exchanger and cooled while in the heat exchanger, and further comprising cooling the desiccant with the cooled refrigerant in the heat exchanger. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the heat exchanger includes a coil configured to receive the refrigerant and a fan, and further comprising propelling a second airflow over the coil and through at least a portion of the desiccant with the fan to desorb moisture from the desiccant. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the heat exchanger includes a coil configured to receive the refrigerant, wherein at least a portion of the coil is embedded in the desiccant, and wherein desorbing moisture from the desiccant includes desorbing moisture from the desiccant with the refrigerant in the embedded coil. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the heat exchanger selectively receives the refrigerant from the compressor, and further comprising:
 positioning at least one valve between the compressor, the condenser, and the heat exchanger, and   selectively directing the refrigerant from the compressor to one of the condenser and the heat exchanger.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 providing a bypass extending from a point between the condenser, the heat exchanger, and the expansion device to a point between the evaporator assembly and the compressor, and   selectively directing the refrigerant from the heat exchanger through the bypass to the compressor.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 providing a second bypass extending from a point between the compressor and the expansion device to a point between the at least one valve and the heat exchanger, the second bypass including a second expansion device, and   selectively directing the refrigerant from the condenser through the second expansion device to the heat exchanger.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the heat exchanger selectively receives the refrigerant from the condenser, and further comprising:
 providing a bypass extending from a point between the condenser and the heat exchanger to a point between the heat exchanger and the expansion device, the bypass configured to direct the refrigerant from the condenser around the heat exchanger,   providing at least one valve between the condenser and the heat exchanger, and   selectively directing the refrigerant from the condenser to at least one of the bypass and the heat exchanger.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 providing a second bypass extending from a point between the heat exchanger and the expansion device to a point between the evaporator assembly and the compressor, and   selectively directing the refrigerant from the heat exchanger through the second bypass to the compressor.   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 providing a third bypass extending from a point between the condenser and the at least one valve to a point between the at least one valve and the heat exchanger, the third bypass including a second expansion device, and   selectively directing the refrigerant from the condenser through the second expansion device to the heat exchanger.   
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the desiccant is a first desiccant and the refrigeration system includes a second desiccant, wherein adsorbing moisture from the airflow includes adsorbing moisture from the airflow flowing through one of the first desiccant and the second desiccant such that the airflow is substantially dehumidified, and wherein desorbing moisture from the desiccant includes desorbing moisture from the other of the first desiccant and the second desiccant with the refrigerant in the heat exchanger. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising reversing the first desiccant and the second desiccant such that the other of the first desiccant and the second desiccant adsorbs moisture from the airflow and the refrigerant in the heat exchanger desorbs moisture from the one of the first desiccant and the second desiccant.